"I sleep in a racing car, do you?" "I sleep in a big bed with my wife." I love how Homer didn't have the intention of roasting Kirk with that statement. It made that exchange even better.
It just shows how important line delivery is. If Dan read that line a bit differently it wouldn't even be funny, but the complete deadpan is absolutely hilarious.
This is the jerkass Homer I like. Not one that becomes spiteful and full of rage over nothing, but just is too stupid to understand the implications of what he says or does sometimes. Makes him slightly more redeemable and can help sell him as a decent person with good intentions when needed for plots
"He's a fruit! Wait wait wait, queer! That's what you like to be called, right?" "Well, that or John." Fucking amazing bit of dialogue from that episode.
I loved that episode! I never would've thought that Ned Flanders would have anger issues! My favorite line? "AH HELL DIDILY DING DONG CRAP! CAN'T YOU MORONS DO ANYTHING RIGHT?!!"
Ned going off was amazing, I would say it was in the same ballpark as Grimes meltdown. In fact, I would say Hurricane Neddy was a spiritual sequel to Homer's Enemy simply from two guys who did everything right but end up getting the short end of the stick leading to a meltdown.
"Well, gee Mulder. There's also this report of a shipment of drugs and illegal weapons coming into New Jersey tonight." "I hardly think the FBI is concerned with matters like that."
Back when Itchy and Scrathy and Poochie first aired I recall having a discussion with a friend who legit thought Roy was a new character and he had just missed a status quo changing episode. Once I pointed out the joke he went "Oh I guess that's why he looked just like Poochie".
Did they ever explain why Roy was there or how he knew the family? Let me guess, it's because Poochie is suddenly Itchy and Scratchy's new friend who shows up with no smooth transition?
@Boco Corwin I KNOW that. That's the joke. Actually, he should be a Simpsons Mysteries video. There could be hundreds of theories of what he is in-universe. I know he's just a new character joke trying to be cool, and then he leaves because he's a hopeless character with no substance. Which is all he was meant to be, because that was the problem with Poochie.
6:31 "Hm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I shall subscribe to your newsletter." Thank you Dark Simpsons for putting that in my head as soon as I saw that.
I was surprised El Viaje Misterioso De Nuestro Homer was so low. That's one of my all-time favorites! No surprises with Homer's Enemy or You Only Move Twice!
Everyone talks about how season nine is downhill, but the ending just reminded me of maybe my favourite ever visual gag on the show- Homer rolling out of Moe's car as it rolls down the cliff, rolling into that rock and getting thrown back in. Cartoon genius.
I think Seasons Nine and Ten were where the decline started, but there were still a fair few quality episodes. I think Season Eleven was when the quality just consistently didn't feel the same.
What I learned to really like, and they point this out in the commendary, the set up for "Grade School Confidential" seems like it be an episode about Bart taking advantage of Skinner/ Krabapple, but it plays out in reverse. It's always the two adults taking advantage to Bart.
Good list but I'd probably cut the Halloween Special. Kind of a weak one in retrospect even with that 3rd act. Brother from Another Series is kinda underrated. "OH YEAH! Shake it, Madam!"
I agree with those top 3 all the way, though A Milhouse Divided is still one I’m torn on, even if it has my Mum’s favourite quote in the whole series. Marge: Homer, is this the way you pictured married life? Homer: Yeah, pretty much, except we drove around in a van solving mysteries.
According to Bill Oakley, Homer was originally going to be given the Houston Oilers instead of the Denver Broncos. Feels like that joke would have aged far better.
It certainly would have, especially because the Oilers are no longer the Oilers, and the Broncos actually won the Super Bowl three times since the episode aired!
I'm surprised why you excluded Hurricane Neddy. That episode always makes me emotional, but I get relieved at the end. The town, that tries to help him, but makes it worse, is probably my favourite scene. And the house getting smaller and smaller is really surreal
Upon rewatching this episode recently I was actually surprised that I didn't care for it that much when I remembered it so fondly. The terrible house is a REALLY memorable scene, and the tornado itself beforehand is great fun with lots of good small jokes, but I completely forgot about the 3rd act, and to be honest I didn't find it to be a super satisfying conclusion. They just sort of identified that Ned's babble is a substitute for venting his frustration and anger but that doesn't actually really line up with how he acts in the series for me otherwise, and the discovery of this was somehow treated as a solution to his earlier issue when it wasn't. It all just felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the episode, as if the first two acts were a really really long inciting opening scene that leads into an 7 minute episode about Ned's mental state that only goes halfway to a conclusion about it. It was a month or two ago that I watched so apologies if I've forgotten some pivotal detail for the story, but the above is the impression it left upon me.
@@JezMMThe 3rd act felt like it was from a newer season. But it makes sense. He doesn't like his parents, but you always hear "to be a good person you should like your parents" and Ned obviously tries to be a good person. This ties up perfectly with him letting Homer steal his stuff, being nice to everyone and being a Christian. He just wants to be perfect. But I agree that it isn't as hard hitting as it could be. Maybe if the 3rd act was longer... But I like how this episode is really funny and sad at the same time.
Love that episode.The part where young Ned starts beating up all the other kids always gets me. Also, I didn't get the subtlety of that scene until fairly recently, specifically the fact he's about to shout out "Take that Dick Face" just as Dr Foster cuts him off.
The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie show is the ultimate anti 90's trend episode...the insert character out of nowhere like Roy, the design build to be cool that don't work...the character that only reach for trends of the moment...It's so 90's it's an amazing critique of the time !
I may speak for many in that I was still in grade school when the episode came out, so the commentary of the episode went way over my head at the time. But, in retrospect, the episode if brilliantly hilarious, and, just like the series as a whole, it is a very good snapshot of the 90's.
I might've included Lisa's Date with Density just for the "Guess who likes you" joke. Good list overall. "Homer's Enemy" is a solid episode, but not a tippy-top favorite of mine. So I'm glad the episode with bigger laughs won.
My favourite episode of this series and one of my Top 5 ever probably is Bart After Dark. It's got a good subversive ending and an amusing plot - not to mention the song - but Belle really carries it for me with all her charisma and how she manages to turn around Springfield's ideologies in minutes.
My guess is that Realjims (rightly) doesn't like just how much of a moralizing nag they make Marge in that episode. Otherwise, yeah, pretty classic ep.
"But, I saved the children's lives! I'm a hero!" "Tell them they'll live to regret this." "YOU'LL LIVE TO REGRET THIS! *realizes what he just said* Oh, thanks a lot, now *I* look crazy!"
El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer is my all time favorite simpsons episode! What a snub :( Johnny Cash is the best guest appearance of all time don't @ me
He was great. One of their more inspired choices ever for a guest role. I wonder if the space coyote connection from childhood partly explains why I became a Johnny fan later in life
Your analysis of Mr. Burns being the real villain of Homer's Enemy is something that I had NEVER thought of before. Frank Grimes should have been angry at him instead of Homer.
Absolutely yes for real life. (But I don’t think that’s the point of the video.) But as a story it kind of needs Homer. It is at it’s core about envy. It needs Homer because he is a collleage and thus a social equal.
I always love your editing, somehow managing to find the best stills to represent what you’re saying as well as utilising the stills for subtle references and jokes.
I’m not saying it makes the top ten, but I got to give some love to the Twisted World of Marge Simpson. Specifically the scene where Whitey Ford gets knocked unconscious by “a barrage of pretzels.” The shot of him face down in the field always brings the laughs. This... this is a black day for Baseball...
"Hall of Famer Whitey ford now on the field....pleading with the crowd for--for some kind of sanity.....uh oh" Yeah that entire bit gets me. lol, Im sitting here giggling as I type.
0:28 "Treehouse of Horror VII might be the least scary of all the classic Halloween specials". Lol, when I was a kid, I saw this episode and the whole Hugo segment scared me so much that I stopped watching the Simpsons for awhile after that. Now granted, I was a total scaredy-cat as a kid, but I still think there's something eerie in the idea of being in the midst of something creepy going on (like Bart discovering Hugo) but others don't seem to acknowledge it's gravity (like how Marge, Homer, and even Lisa behave) -- it's like living through a nightmare or something... so chilling! Especially when in one's home, preventing one from having a place to run away to.
Here's my quick top 10 for season 8 10. Lisa's date with density - Lisa pairing up with Nelson is brilliant, that's the main reason I like it 9. Homer's phobia - The gay steel mill is a highlight of the season 8. Hurricane Neddy - Ned's breakdown is the highlight, the hurricane is great too 7. Homer's enemy - most people would put this higher, but here's the deal for me: in context of seasons 1-8 I hate this episode, but in context of 9-12, I think it's brilliant. It's the first episode that kind of "ruined" the simpsons canon for me, but I can't think of anything that would fix it except making it not canon. The shocker ending is what makes it so unique and remembered. 6. El Vijae misterioso de nuestro Jomer - honestly the first and third acts feel kinda like they came from season 9 or maybe even 10, but the second act is so unique, it's awesome 5. Grade school confidential - there are a lot of secondary character studies in this season, and this one feels like the biggest. 4. Homer vs the 18th amendment - the 20s atmosphere + Rex Banner is the best part, as well as how it incorporates the whole town. 3. THOH 7 - controversial opinion: Citizen Kang is the best THOH segment. It's definitely the funniest segment, and I'd say the best political commentary the Simpsons has done. The Hugo segment is top tier stuff, and Lisa's segment is there too. 2nd best THOH overall IMO 2. Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie - A lot of the scenes in this episode are written virtually perfectly. "My planet needs me" is of course the best but the whole kid feedback scene, "nice place you got here", "I hope somebody got fired for that blunder", so many great parts. And Roy is my personal favorite Simpsons character. 1. You only move twice - duh. Great top tier episode, and one of the most complete-feeling Simpsons episodes, like nothing could easily be cut from the episode.
They cut quite a lot out of the episode, though. I kind of wish they'd been able to leave in the robo-call service subplot for Grandpa. There were two scenes of it on the Season 8 DVD, but there were apparently two more that were planned.
It’s criminal it didn’t make the top 5 let alone top 10, sure it’s not the funniest episode ever but pretty much every episode is gonna make you laugh! Only this episode has animation this insane, it’s like the writers said “if we’re going to have a guest star as legendary as Johnny Cash we had better go all out on this episode” I don’t know, I’ve never ranked funny episodes super high in my personal lists, ANY classic Simpsons episode can make you laugh it’s not THAT special, I want something that can make me feel like Separate Vocations or wow me with its visuals like Mysterious Voyage
Derek Matzek I don’t always rank the funniest the highest either which is why I like a lot of the simpsons and futurama, mind you they are still funny but not overtly seeking jokes or making constant jokes like some other show. For instance the summer of 4 ft 2 is one of my favorites as is War of the Simpsons. They have funny moments but good writing and story telling. But back to Johnny Cash...and that talking coyote was just that talking dog, “find your soul mate Homer” wait a minute dogs can’t talk ruff...damn straight. That’s some funny shit
@@derekmatzek9551 It was considered all way back in season 3, but rejected as too wild (series still had rule of relative plausibility), and renewed in S8, because show crew finally had ambitions to go into that bizarre direction. There is various signs of earlier characterization in the script, indicating far-removed roots of episode (Smithers engages Marge at square dance, little more reasonable Ralph, etc.).
Grade School Confidential is one of my fav episodes from this season. I always have a soft spot for the Skinner and Krabopple episodes like this one and the PTA Disbands
Man, the episode that really surprised me on rewatch is Gradeschool Confidential. It seems like it should be such a cliche 'these characters are in the same setting together so let's pair them up' plotline but it really, really works because the character beats are just so perfect. It makes sense that these two characters would end up dating - once Edna can see Skinner as something other than an obstructive opposition, she's lonely enough to give it a try, and Skinner's passive enough to go along with it. But more than that, the two of them end up doing what few other relationships in the series (including Homer and Marge) do for me - they really feel GOOD for each other. They're both in essense lonely people with boring, humdrum lives, but approach it in different ways. It makes sense that when Edna has an incentive to see Skinner's good qualities, that his way of seeing the best in the life she's felt ground down by would be really endearing, and he'd remind her that there are things that can make her happy. On the other hand, Edna's longing for more gets through to Skinner too - he gets the guts to fight for their relationship, and then keep it going at the end. There's something legitimately really sweet and earnest and optimistic about it, in the vein of earlier seasons - I feel silly getting such strong feelings about Skinner and Mrs Krabappel, but their very mundanity is basically the point. They're ordinary people stuck in the grind, but they manage to find happiness together, and bring happiness to each other. It's really a perfect ending for them - no big, shocking change, and the world doesn't yet recognise their love. But it's there, whether anyone else sees it or cares or not. It feels like the anti Homers Enemy, tbh, which is obviously an AMAZING episode but tends to make me feel negatively the more I think about it. Gradeschool Confidential makes me feel GOOD. It is, IMO, a really underrated episode, and I'd easily put it in my top 5 for this sason.
This is my favorite season of The Simpsons. So many great episodes. I’d even say that Homer’s Enemy and You Only Move Twice alone make this my favorite season.
My mind was blown when I learned which episodes made up this season, they're all so amazing. Season 8 is my all-time favourite season, just about every episode is packed full of gags that just fire off so quickly, and all of them land perfectly.
"The Springfield Files" is my favorite Simpsons episode of all time, just because I have never laughed as hard as I did when the "alien" was revealed to be burns. I don't really laugh much, and the best jokes normally get a chuckle out of me at most. But I just completely lost it for a solid 3 minutes.
I used to think series 8 was one of the weaker ones of the golden era but my god some of these episodes are classic. I can imagine this was incredibly hard to put together. Anyone could’ve named the top 2 straight away. It’s such a tough pick but for me I’ve gotta go with Homer’s Enemy. Scorpio is Albert Brooks’s finest hour, but too much of the episode is solely down to him I guess. Homer’s Enemy is more than just a very funny episode of the Simpsons
This season has 2 episode that are on a lot of peoples "Mount Rushmore" of Simpsons episodes. Thats basically enough said for this season For me its in no order, Homers Enemy, You Only Move Twice, Treehouse of Horror V and Last Exit to Springfield. Also its incredible that 2 episodes I really like, Bart After Dark and Brother From Another Series don't even get a look in. Though anything Sideshow Bob makes an episode go up 30% higher in my rankings than it "should" regardless of the plot
I love how "Homer's Enemy" purposely flanderizes all of Springfield. That would normally be a bad thing, but they made the town feel like this anomaly that exists outside of the rules of logic and sucks your intelligence the longer you spent there. It's basically another dimension.
Hurricane neddy is easily one of my favourite episodes of all time ❤️ I'm shocked it wasn't anywhere on this list but I guess that's just how good this season is, just that scene with neds new house alone kills me as one of the greatest couple of minutes in the Simpsons ❤️😂
25: My Sister, My Sitter 24: The Twisted World of Marge Simpson 23: Burns, Baby Burns 22: The Canine Mutiny 21: The Homer They Fall 20: In Marge We Trust 19: The Old Man and the Lisa 18: Lisa’s Date With Density 17: Bart After Dark 16: Simpsoncalifragilisticexpialidoc (Annoyed Grunt) ious 15: Secret War of Lisa Simpson 14: Hurricane Neddy 13: Simpsons Spin Off Showcase 12: Mysterious Voyage of Homer 11: Homer vs. the 18th Amendment 10: Grade School Confidential 9: Mountain of Madness 8: The Brother From Another Series 7: Treehouse of Horror VII 6: A Milhouse Divided 5: Homer’s Phobia 4: Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show 3: The Springfield Files 2: You Only Move Twice 1: Homer’s Enemy
Damn you made the chili cook-off episode, one of the top rated and arguably best episode ever made for the series, down towards last on your list. I question this tremendously.
Homer's Phobia is still my favorite episode of all time. John and Homer's moments and dynamic gets me everytime. That and the Ajax Steel Mill. I love how Homer's ignorance mimics the way people used to think about the gay people in general, mostly based on TV and media stereotypes ("You know me, Marge: I like my beer cold, my TV loud and my homosexuals FLAAAAAAMING"). I remember this was an episode it aired waaaaaay late at night in my country back in the day, probably to avoid controversy. Fortunately we've moved forward since then, and actually you can find the episode aired in the afternoon sometimes. It's a memorable episode.
Great list as always, but it broke my heart that The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer didn’t make the top 5, let alone top 10, sure it’s not the funniest episode by any stretch of the imagination, but the animation alone makes it one of my favorites, it’s like the writers said “if we’re going to have a guest star as legendary as Johnny Cash, we better go all out with this episode”
My rank: 1. El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer) 2. Bart After Dark 3. Hurricane Neddy 4. Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment 5. Homer's Phobia 6. Grade School Confidential 7. A Milhouse Divided 8. Homer's Enemy 9. You Only Move Twice 10. The Homer They Fall
I think I've read somewhere that your favourite translates to "The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer". I'm not saying you're wrong. I think leaving out or adding the "our" is pretty much optional and the title won't change in Spanish either way (languages don't always have direct translations because they don't have certain synonyms), but it's something to think about.
My Top 10 Simpsons Season 8 Episodes 10. You Only Move Twice: A Little low for a lot of people but I still love this episode. Interesting how the other Simpsons are worse off not being in Springfield but Homer passing up being a part of a crime empire. Love the setting here. Excellent Episode. 9. The Old Man and the Lisa: Weird pairing with Lisa and Mr. Burns but it works very well. I love how Lisa points out how Burns is always evil even when trying to be good. The sideplot with Homer drinking beer is pretty fun as well. 8. A Milhouse Divided: Whenever there's a status quo change, you know it's going to be a good story. A lot of Funny Kirk Van Houten moments as well as Milhouse trying to adjust to life with divorced parents. The subplot with Homer divorcing and remarrying Marge is a lot of fun too and the ending with "Can I Borrow a Feeling" is classic. 7. Lisa's Date With Density: Another Very Solid classic era episode where Lisa tries to make Nelson better and a hilarious Homer-related Sideplot with him becoming a Telemarketer. Homer's answering machine messages are pure gold and the end of Lisa and Nelson's relationship. 6. The Homer They Fall: Amazing boxing parody episode of Homer becoming a Professional Boxer and going three rounds with the Heavyweight champ. This is also my favorite all-time Moe episode as he does well trying to be Homer's Trainer. The Homer Simpson Syndrome and the Fly Guy parody at the end stand out here. 5. Treehouse of Horror VII: Very Good Treehouse of Horror. The Bart having a Twin brother segment is scary and hilarious at the same time, The Genesis Tub is an interesting bit but with a rather sad ending as people realise Lisa can never be saved, and the Clinton vs. Dole election with Kang and Kodos involved is such a Riot. 4. Grade School Confidential: Another attempt in Season 8 (albeit better than A Milhouse Divided) to change the status quo and this time its Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner hooking up (and staying together for about a handful of seasons) and the kids at Springfield Elementary hearing rumors about their alleged doings. The jokes all stick here and it is a great change for the series going forward. 3. The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show: Another awesome Itchy and Scratchy centered episode about the cat and mouse getting a new sidekick and the dog is voiced by none other than Homer. The Test audience scene at the beginning is hilarious and so is all the Poochie cameos in the episode. It's cool too that Homer can steal and ruin the show in the same episode, and they leave the episode with a proper lesson learned. 2. Homer's Enemy: A Classic episode all-around with Frank Grimes being the centerpiece as he is jealous of Homer's great life. All the interactions between Homer and Grimey are gold and my favorite moment of the series is the Frank Grimes Freak-Out and Death ending. 1. The Secret War of Lisa Simpson: I'm just gonna say it, to me, Bart and Lisa pairing episodes are my best pairing in the series. Such an Amazing character dynamic between the two siblings in both Acts 2 and 3. The Testing prank at the beginning is amazing, the Military School Hazing scenes are surreal and the ending where both Bart and Lisa conquer an unsafe and illegal obstacle rope course is wonderful to see. Plenty of room for jokes too. Top tier episode.
So, I've been thinking about "you only move twice" since you did your video on it. Because I absolutely hate that episode. I was a child when the episode first aired and I always have. But when you did your video on it, I started remembering Hank Scorpio and how much I really loved him. So I rewatched it trying to understand my own memory. And there is a lot about the episode I like (ok, there is Hank about the episode I like) but I still really disliked it. It's been rolling around in my mind ever since and I finally came to something of an epiphany. But this episode was the first one where I felt really betrayed by the status-quo. I already got the concept; even I knew they would be moving back by the end of the episode. But the reasons they gave were, in my mind, the most ridiculous and character betraying reasons they could possibly come up with. It was the laziest thing ever. And honestly, I still agree with it and pretty much all my complaints still stand. Marge being board at home isn't completely impossible, likely she would take a while to warm up. But she was so immediately resigned to it, like she hadn't gotten a job at the power plant, become a cop, gone on the run and learned how to use a gun, joined a society club and book clubs and the like. Like she was still season 1 'nothing outside a housewife' Marge. Obviously, she would take time to make new friends and join things, but the idea that she wouldn't even try was ridiculous to me. Her issues bother me most, and the fact that she didn't even try to explore options to help the kids. Lisa already was such a nature kid I thought it was stupid she was suddenly so full of allergies. But fine, it could happen. And some allergies are bad enough that medicine doesn't help. But the fact is repeated that they didn't try. She didn't try allergy shots or explore any options. Bart has the most legitimate complaints (I don't say that often) but even his are manageable. They could certainly hire a tutor to try and catch Bart up so he could re-join normal class. Now Bart would hate that, which is why I say his complaint is most legitimate. But we still run into the repeated problem that they didn't even consider doing something about it. They all could have and reasonably SHOULD have, had improved lives here. And absolutely no effort was made to see if they might. It is the most self-sabotaging nonsense I have ever seen. And two out of three felt like out of character self-sabotage on top of that. Now as an adult I can understand more the time constraint problems and just appreciate what a masterpiece performance Hanks character provides. And it's not like there aren't legitimate complaints about living and working there (he IS a supervillain after all) but that wasn't the reasons they left. And that's the joke, I get that. But it was the moment I realized that writing didn't matter, a story meant little, and character personalities and histories would be thrown out in a second if it was funnier and easier. I certainly don't think this episode is objectively bad. In fact, I think its actually quite good and fun. But subconsciously this was a big moment that made me realize that the show was an episodic laugh-fest and was never going to be more to me than that, it was never going to be MEANINGFUL to me. Despite the occasional meaningful episode, as a whole, the structure worked against getting that something extra out of a show. And honestly, after this episode, I accepted that and I could enjoy it in a more lighthearted manner. But I guess I always resented this episode for that first betraying moment.
Yay, finally somebody hates YOLT!))) I watched episode, maybe, couple times at all, but thing that couldn't manage to elevate it to Top Classic for me is exactly that non-fulfillment of plot, as if episode has sole premise and character with quirk, but doesn't expand on any of it in sense of narrative, so there is those arbitrary reasons to shift everything back to status quo, as if writers had problems to come with story around potentially interesting premise. (Also it seems, I'm single human in universe who isn't in love with Hank Scorpio... I'm sure Brooks gave fantastic performance, though. And I, possibly, would like to see him and Sideshow Bob collaborating as antagonists, or even oppose to each other.) Regarding devolving of Marge, not only in that episode, but overall since somewhere around S5-6, she goes back to oppressed miserable housewife, having all her achievements and amazing progress she undergone during S1-4, nixed, and even while she occasionally had new bursts of it even in S6-7, she would then just go back down in the end of episode and revert to her dull life of serving her unthankful brood (all while in previous seasons there was some small progress on her part or improvement in Homer's and kids evaluation for her). It's side-effects of years-lasting status quo, of course, yet disappointing in regard of such (initially) nuanced character.
Funny thing about "The Genesis Tub," I watched the Talespin episode "The Incredible Shrinking Molly" and they basically did the "rebigulator" joke several years before the Simpsons did. Albeit, phrased differently and not nearly as funny, but still having the same meaning that somehow a shrinking ray is possible, but a growth ray isn't. And I wouldn't have bothered to mention it, but the line was delivered by Dan Castellaneta. So a Simpsons joke told by a Simpsons cast member before they actually did it on the show. Also, Disney could TOTALLY make a Chewbacca figure wearing a "Homer is a Dope" t-shirt. They own both, it would be a nice collectable.
It did feel random in that case though since he still grew them back anyway no problem, while the large point of The Genesis Tub is that they genuinely couldn't do it and hadn't at all thought any of their plan through when permanently shrinking their 'God'.
That's the differences between the cartoons and the formats. Talespin basically having a plot to resolve to get to a status quo to remain episodic. The Simpsons, however, it's a non-canonical anthology series where they leave things in unsolvable situations because the fact that things go without a satisfying conclusion is the joke. While technically the same joke, the resolution, or lack thereof, does change the context. That said, it was a weird Talespin. The show is a little more grounded than having a standard Incredible Shrinking 80's Stock Plot. It wasn't even that good, and Dan playing the crazy scientist was the only real highlight.
@@mightyfilm I think it's just one of those stock plots that nearly every show with even a mild fantasy hook does (same for the 'switch bodies' or 'cyborgs take over the industry' plots, which Talespin also done, as well as most of the other Disney afternoon shows). I'm pretty sure the Simpsons even done shrinking again in a non-Treehouse of Horror format (at least the comics did). It was a rather lively Talespin episode though, the animation was looser and even the acting was a bit crazier. It was almost like they decided to make things a little wilder with Dan there.
80's cartoons had stock plotlines, mostly because of the 65 episode syndication crunch. Some writers outright recycled their own plots, if not straight up scripts, for multiple shows created by competing companies. David Wise recycled one storyline for He-Man, Transformers, TMNT, and Defenders of the Earth.
@@mightyfilm Well yeah, but even then those plots aren't exactly ditched in modern times. Modern cartoons still use all the stock plots like 'shrink rays', 'body switchings', 'invisibility potions', 'turned to babies/animals/kaijus', etc, etc. They're pretty much go-to 'wacky antics' scenarios.
Really hard for me to pick stand-out favorites, though among the top of my list for this season would be You Only Move Twice, The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show, Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment, In Marge We Trust, and The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase. Honorable mention goes to Homer's Enemy, an episode that I don't fully like, but I have a massive amount of respect for, in terms of just going there with that pitch black comedy ending.
@@yonismohamed3036 bart's injuries freaked me out, the daydream thing where everyone blamed lisa scared me, and ESPECIALLY when all her anxieties came true and everyone thought she WAS a horrible babysitter would make me genuinely frightened that a series of unfortunate events like that could happen to me and don't worry you don't sound condescending at all, i understand that i was scared of silly things as a kid
I am just genuinely curious as to your feelings towards the "post-classic era" seasons. I feel like people are so quick to write off the show post season 10. I think you'll be able to point out the gems from every season.
Agreed I've been watching them for the first time myself thanks to this channel inspiring me to get disney+. There's some legit good stuff in there that I missed out on due to giving up on the show with Saddlesore Galactica. Course a lot of not so great too, but it's been more watchable then I thought it would be.
@@stryke-jn3kv It's weird but I never minded Saddlesore Galactica...but tbh, I don't think I've seen it since I was quite young and I just kind of ate up everything Simpsons until a certain age. I caught chunks of the FXX Every Simpsons Ever marathon a few years back and did start to notice how bad episodes like Simpsons Safari and the episode about Moe's bar rag are. At the same time, there are still some gems like Behind the Laughter, Barthood, etc. I really enjoyed Halloween of Horror and Gone Abie Gone , among others.
Jeffery Jones oh the moe bar rag story one was awful it was so boring it’s one of the worst episodes imo I almost fall asleep every time I see it so I try to skip over it
@@jefferyjones8399 I still need to watch Behind The Laughter. Everyone tells me how good it is. I do think some of the double digit seasons were good, like 12, 14, 15...all of those had their own little gems. Seasons 10 and 11 are ones I have a down on, though. Especially 11. I can literally pick out almost any episode from that season and immediately list something wrong with it. The poisoned eclair literally ruined Guess Who's Coming To Criticize Dinner, for example. Or Kill The Alligator and Run moves so fast, it kind of feels more like a disjointed set of clips than a full episode.
"Dont blame me. I voted for Kodos" is by far the line I think about the most from this season. Especially after becoming of election age. I think that that episode is the best satire The Simpsons has ever done. Personally, I prefer how South Park does satire, but thats just me
Can’t wait for the Season 9 retrospective. I’m really keen for an Extra Seconds on ‘The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson’ and The Principal and The Pauper’.
Homer’s Enemy & the Springfield Files are one of my all time favorites. 💛Homer’s Enemy is such a kind episode to Homer, everyone is just so nice towards him...well except Grimmie And love me some X-Files cameo.
I've just been binging loads of Simpsons videos on youtube and came across this one, which I'm so happy about. Season 8 was one of my favourites with SO MANY great episodes like You Only Move Twice, Homer's Enemy, The Springfield Files, Bart After Dark and my ABSOLUTE favourite- Grade School Confidential. That episode was so sweet and I totally agree with how you described Edna and Seymour's dynamic and how they naturally developed their relationship. It felt like something that would work, two characters finally breaking the status quo of the show (which Edna is actually only one of VERY few characters who does that) and the two just bounced off of each other so well- Seymour's innocence and Edna's jaded wit. I wanted to see Seymour become a confident, independent man who's able to give Edna the love and happiness that she deserves... but the writers absolutely butchered their story after such an adorable start, heck even their engagement was cute... but the wedding episode really upset me. I was actually a bit unsure of Ned/Edna because of my fondness of Grade School Confidential but, in the end, Ned made her happy and they genuinely loved each other, so at least she finally felt loved and appreciated before she sadly left us.
Excellent video! I believe that episodes 1 and 2 from your list both deserve to be in the discussion for the title of "Best Episode of the Entire Series". I love your videos, and I am very much looking forward to your Season 9 review!
Inspired by your Top 10 lists, here is my Top 10 of Season 8: 1.You Only Move Twice 2. Bart After Dark 3. Grade School Confidential 4. The Secret War of Lisa Simpson 5. Homer vs. the 18th Amendment 6. Homer's Enemy 7. In Marge We Trust 8. My Sister, My Sitter 9. The Mysterious Voyage of Homer 10. Homer's Phobia I always thought my love for Hank Scorpio was skewing the value of that episode, but I see others are with me! I might just get a Hank Scorpio tattoo before it's all over.
For me, the Top 10 of Season 8 Would Be: 10. The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show 9. The Springfield Files 8. El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer 7. A Milhouse Divided 6. Homer's Enemy 5. Lisa's Date with Density 4. Grade School Confidential 3. Hurricane Neddy 2. Homer vs the Eighteenth Amendment 1. You Only Move Twice
Jims says of "Mountain of Madness" that it's full of stuff he'd be shaking his fist at Scully for, but there's a very big and important difference between "Mountain of Madness" being wacky and seasons 9-12 being wacky: "Mountain of Madness" is actually funny. It does comedy with its wackiness, whereas in the Scully era, the wackiness IS (intended to be) the comedy, so in the end there is mostly no comedy.
John swartzwelder wrote your top two from this season plus another top 10 & an honorable mention. Season 8 is probably the best season by the best simpsons writer.
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"I sleep in a racing car, do you?"
"I sleep in a big bed with my wife."
I love how Homer didn't have the intention of roasting Kirk with that statement. It made that exchange even better.
Garrick Groover My favourite is the “I drank a beer on the toilet”
“The one down the hall?”
It just shows how important line delivery is. If Dan read that line a bit differently it wouldn't even be funny, but the complete deadpan is absolutely hilarious.
This is the jerkass Homer I like. Not one that becomes spiteful and full of rage over nothing, but just is too stupid to understand the implications of what he says or does sometimes. Makes him slightly more redeemable and can help sell him as a decent person with good intentions when needed for plots
😂😂😂
BlueCanine Exactly.
"Dad, why did you bring me to a gay steel mill?" is one of the best lines of the season and you can't even at me about this
I am personally fond of "be nice!"
Homers wrong to assume Bart can think man things at only ten.
I love this line and Homers "I don't know" kills me
i’m quite a big fan of the Cousin Merle saga
I liked:
"Hey! Where did you get that shirt?"
"I dunno. Came out of the closet"
"He's a fruit! Wait wait wait, queer! That's what you like to be called, right?"
"Well, that or John."
Fucking amazing bit of dialogue from that episode.
"No Homer, very few cartoons are done live. It's a terrible strain on the animators wrists."
No Hurricane Neddy on the Season 8 list? Diddly ding dong crap!
That's a load barring poster
Can't you morons do anything right?!
I don't even know who you are and I bet you're a jerk.
@@bmstylee _Hey, I only just got here! What's going on?!_
It didn’t chart top 17 but the Marry Poppins did 😭
Scorpio: "Ah, forget them. Stay with me, we'll go bowling."
_distant explosion_
"Have you ever seen a top 10 entry devolve into a list of jokes?"
Yes, once.
Who else read that like John Redcorn?
"Let em go you'll stay here with me we'll go bowling"
Can't argue with the little things its the little things that make up life
"You know me, Marge--I like my beer cold, my TV loud, and my homosexuals flaaaaaming!"
'fuh-laaaaaming' to be pedantic
"You chose 'You'. Which means 'Me'. That is incorrect. The real answer, is 'You'."
GRRRRRR!
"Mom, can we go outside? Away from the bear!?"
I'll accept leaving Hurricane Neddy off the list so long as you do a full Extra Seconds review of it
I second that
I don't know you but I'm sure you've a jerk
I loved that episode! I never would've thought that Ned Flanders would have anger issues! My favorite line? "AH HELL DIDILY DING DONG CRAP! CAN'T YOU MORONS DO ANYTHING RIGHT?!!"
@@melissacooper4282 Homer you are the worst human being.
Ned going off was amazing, I would say it was in the same ballpark as Grimes meltdown. In fact, I would say Hurricane Neddy was a spiritual sequel to Homer's Enemy simply from two guys who did everything right but end up getting the short end of the stick leading to a meltdown.
"Well, gee Mulder. There's also this report of a shipment of drugs and illegal weapons coming into New Jersey tonight."
"I hardly think the FBI is concerned with matters like that."
Omg, I forgot about that joke XD
And what's funny is he's completely right
"The years at clown college!"
"Ill thank you not to refer to Princeton that way"
Bart: "Guess who?"
Cecil: "Maris?"
🐕:Hi Homer find your soulmate! Homer: Hey wait a minute, there's no such thing as a talking dog!?
🐕:Woof woof!
Homer: Damn straight!
😄😊😉
H : IN YOUR FACE SPACE COYOTE!!
M : Space Coyote?
Space Coyote: Find your soulmate Homer
Homer: How?
Space Coyote: This is just your memory, i cannot give you any further information
@@ZakJordan98 Dammit, someone got to it before I did!
My favourite episode ever. I love when something minor goes my way, pointing to the sky and exclaiming In your face space coyote!!
Can I borrow a feelin'?
Could you send me a jar of love?
Hurtin' hearts need some healin',
Take my hand with your glove of loooooove!
@Boco Corwin That's your picture on the front!
The lasting effects on poor Milhouse.
"SEX CAULDRON!! I thought they shut that place down!" Is still my favourite joke
Back when Itchy and Scrathy and Poochie first aired I recall having a discussion with a friend who legit thought Roy was a new character and he had just missed a status quo changing episode. Once I pointed out the joke he went "Oh I guess that's why he looked just like Poochie".
Did they ever explain why Roy was there or how he knew the family? Let me guess, it's because Poochie is suddenly Itchy and Scratchy's new friend who shows up with no smooth transition?
@Boco Corwin No, before he left the show for ever.
@Boco Corwin I KNOW that. That's the joke. Actually, he should be a Simpsons Mysteries video. There could be hundreds of theories of what he is in-universe. I know he's just a new character joke trying to be cool, and then he leaves because he's a hopeless character with no substance. Which is all he was meant to be, because that was the problem with Poochie.
@Boco Corwin Now look sad and say d'oh haha
6:31 "Hm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I shall subscribe to your newsletter." Thank you Dark Simpsons for putting that in my head as soon as I saw that.
I was surprised El Viaje Misterioso De Nuestro Homer was so low. That's one of my all-time favorites!
No surprises with Homer's Enemy or You Only Move Twice!
Everyone talks about how season nine is downhill, but the ending just reminded me of maybe my favourite ever visual gag on the show- Homer rolling out of Moe's car as it rolls down the cliff, rolling into that rock and getting thrown back in. Cartoon genius.
I think Seasons Nine and Ten were where the decline started, but there were still a fair few quality episodes. I think Season Eleven was when the quality just consistently didn't feel the same.
1-10 golden age. 3-8 platinum age
I just laughed my ass of from remembering that scene, thanks!
"I'm gonna get you Beer Baron."
Homer in the distance...
"No you won't!"
Yes I will..
@@Bigtones88 WON'T!
@@Bigtones88 D'oh.
What I learned to really like, and they point this out in the commendary, the set up for "Grade School Confidential" seems like it be an episode about Bart taking advantage of Skinner/ Krabapple, but it plays out in reverse. It's always the two adults taking advantage to Bart.
"The baby looked at you?" Best Wiggum line ever.
The Mountain of Madness feels like a secret Season 5 episode and I love it.
Good list but I'd probably cut the Halloween Special. Kind of a weak one in retrospect even with that 3rd act. Brother from Another Series is kinda underrated. "OH YEAH! Shake it, Madam!"
"Capital knockers!"
Also
Bart: NOOOOOOO! *jumps on Cecil, covering his eyes* Guess who?
Cecil: Maris?
I agree, I would also put the Mysterious Voyage of Homer in the top 10
I agree with those top 3 all the way, though A Milhouse Divided is still one I’m torn on, even if it has my Mum’s favourite quote in the whole series.
Marge: Homer, is this the way you pictured married life?
Homer: Yeah, pretty much, except we drove around in a van solving mysteries.
Bart: Hey is that Dad?
Lisa: Either that or Batman really let himself go!
According to Bill Oakley, Homer was originally going to be given the Houston Oilers instead of the Denver Broncos. Feels like that joke would have aged far better.
Man I wish. I wasn't even alive when the Oilers were my towns team, but I still want them back-
It certainly would have, especially because the Oilers are no longer the Oilers, and the Broncos actually won the Super Bowl three times since the episode aired!
@@co81385 homer is apparently a decent owner for the Broncos lmao
Maybe it would have aged better, but back then, even knowing nothing about football, I knew getting the Denver Broncos was a bad thing.
I'm surprised why you excluded Hurricane Neddy.
That episode always makes me emotional, but I get relieved at the end. The town, that tries to help him, but makes it worse, is probably my favourite scene. And the house getting smaller and smaller is really surreal
Same. Plus it does give a backstory for ned. The fact that every diddily is him swearing like a sailor is hilarious and quite shocking.
“We’ve tried nothing and we’re all out of ideas!”
Upon rewatching this episode recently I was actually surprised that I didn't care for it that much when I remembered it so fondly. The terrible house is a REALLY memorable scene, and the tornado itself beforehand is great fun with lots of good small jokes, but I completely forgot about the 3rd act, and to be honest I didn't find it to be a super satisfying conclusion. They just sort of identified that Ned's babble is a substitute for venting his frustration and anger but that doesn't actually really line up with how he acts in the series for me otherwise, and the discovery of this was somehow treated as a solution to his earlier issue when it wasn't. It all just felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the episode, as if the first two acts were a really really long inciting opening scene that leads into an 7 minute episode about Ned's mental state that only goes halfway to a conclusion about it. It was a month or two ago that I watched so apologies if I've forgotten some pivotal detail for the story, but the above is the impression it left upon me.
@@JezMMThe 3rd act felt like it was from a newer season. But it makes sense. He doesn't like his parents, but you always hear "to be a good person you should like your parents" and Ned obviously tries to be a good person. This ties up perfectly with him letting Homer steal his stuff, being nice to everyone and being a Christian. He just wants to be perfect. But I agree that it isn't as hard hitting as it could be. Maybe if the 3rd act was longer...
But I like how this episode is really funny and sad at the same time.
Love that episode.The part where young Ned starts beating up all the other kids always gets me. Also, I didn't get the subtlety of that scene until fairly recently, specifically the fact he's about to shout out "Take that Dick Face" just as Dr Foster cuts him off.
As a Frasier fan, I really enjoy the episode 'Brother from another series '
Two brilliant guest stars plus an absolutely power mad Wiggum, what's not to love?
I came on here to say the same! one of the best episodes.
Hilarious episode brilliant performance from grammar and pierce
The comments are all calling Scully bad, and I personally disagree.
She’s half the fun of The Springfield Files!
Not to mention Gillian Anderson is still a very attractive woman!
when she shows up at the end wearing the 'homer is a dope' shirt still sends me.
They both sound so hilariously stilted, I love it
"It's like a lava lamp" is my favourite line of that episode after "Hey he's still got it!"
Agreed, 'Bad Blood' from X-Files shows Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny are amazing at self-parody.
"You got any sugar around here?"
"Sugar? Sure."
"Here you go."
"Sorry it's not in packages. Want some cream?"
"Ehhhhyeah...No..."
"So, I says to Mabel, I says..."
marge slowly backing out of the room with the history film cracks me up every time.
The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie show is the ultimate anti 90's trend episode...the insert character out of nowhere like Roy, the design build to be cool that don't work...the character that only reach for trends of the moment...It's so 90's it's an amazing critique of the time !
I may speak for many in that I was still in grade school when the episode came out, so the commentary of the episode went way over my head at the time. But, in retrospect, the episode if brilliantly hilarious, and, just like the series as a whole, it is a very good snapshot of the 90's.
I might've included Lisa's Date with Density just for the "Guess who likes you" joke. Good list overall. "Homer's Enemy" is a solid episode, but not a tippy-top favorite of mine. So I'm glad the episode with bigger laughs won.
The guess who likes you joke made the episode
@@ljones121 And Milhouse's eyebrows made the joke.
@@strawberrysoulforever8336 definitely
" he can't hear you, we had to pack his ears with gauze"
"Did you ever see a top 10 entry devolve into a list of jokes?"
Hehehe... once
My favourite episode of this series and one of my Top 5 ever probably is Bart After Dark. It's got a good subversive ending and an amusing plot - not to mention the song - but Belle really carries it for me with all her charisma and how she manages to turn around Springfield's ideologies in minutes.
If I remember correctly, they won an Emmy for Outstanding Lyrics for the episode.
As they should.
I love that episode so much
My guess is that Realjims (rightly) doesn't like just how much of a moralizing nag they make Marge in that episode. Otherwise, yeah, pretty classic ep.
"But, I saved the children's lives! I'm a hero!"
"Tell them they'll live to regret this."
"YOU'LL LIVE TO REGRET THIS! *realizes what he just said* Oh, thanks a lot, now *I* look crazy!"
The alien lineup in The Springfield Files is still one of my favorite sight gags of all time.
El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer is my all time favorite simpsons episode! What a snub :(
Johnny Cash is the best guest appearance of all time don't @ me
He was great. One of their more inspired choices ever for a guest role. I wonder if the space coyote connection from childhood partly explains why I became a Johnny fan later in life
yup mine too.
The animation is really something special
"This is your memory. I can't give you any new information."
Aired on bbc2 weeks before 9-11.
100% agree. Might be sacrilicious, but I'd take El Viaje over You Only Move Twice any day.
Your analysis of Mr. Burns being the real villain of Homer's Enemy is something that I had NEVER thought of before. Frank Grimes should have been angry at him instead of Homer.
Absolutely yes for real life. (But I don’t think that’s the point of the video.) But as a story it kind of needs Homer. It is at it’s core about envy. It needs Homer because he is a collleage and thus a social equal.
I always love your editing, somehow managing to find the best stills to represent what you’re saying as well as utilising the stills for subtle references and jokes.
I’m not saying it makes the top ten, but I got to give some love to the Twisted World of Marge Simpson.
Specifically the scene where Whitey Ford gets knocked unconscious by “a barrage of pretzels.” The shot of him face down in the field always brings the laughs.
This... this is a black day for Baseball...
"Hall of Famer Whitey ford now on the field....pleading with the crowd for--for some kind of sanity.....uh oh"
Yeah that entire bit gets me. lol, Im sitting here giggling as I type.
Love the line "and to show you we are serious, you have 12 hours"
0:28 "Treehouse of Horror VII might be the least scary of all the classic Halloween specials". Lol, when I was a kid, I saw this episode and the whole Hugo segment scared me so much that I stopped watching the Simpsons for awhile after that. Now granted, I was a total scaredy-cat as a kid, but I still think there's something eerie in the idea of being in the midst of something creepy going on (like Bart discovering Hugo) but others don't seem to acknowledge it's gravity (like how Marge, Homer, and even Lisa behave) -- it's like living through a nightmare or something... so chilling! Especially when in one's home, preventing one from having a place to run away to.
Here's my quick top 10 for season 8
10. Lisa's date with density - Lisa pairing up with Nelson is brilliant, that's the main reason I like it
9. Homer's phobia - The gay steel mill is a highlight of the season
8. Hurricane Neddy - Ned's breakdown is the highlight, the hurricane is great too
7. Homer's enemy - most people would put this higher, but here's the deal for me: in context of seasons 1-8 I hate this episode, but in context of 9-12, I think it's brilliant. It's the first episode that kind of "ruined" the simpsons canon for me, but I can't think of anything that would fix it except making it not canon. The shocker ending is what makes it so unique and remembered.
6. El Vijae misterioso de nuestro Jomer - honestly the first and third acts feel kinda like they came from season 9 or maybe even 10, but the second act is so unique, it's awesome
5. Grade school confidential - there are a lot of secondary character studies in this season, and this one feels like the biggest.
4. Homer vs the 18th amendment - the 20s atmosphere + Rex Banner is the best part, as well as how it incorporates the whole town.
3. THOH 7 - controversial opinion: Citizen Kang is the best THOH segment. It's definitely the funniest segment, and I'd say the best political commentary the Simpsons has done. The Hugo segment is top tier stuff, and Lisa's segment is there too. 2nd best THOH overall IMO
2. Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie - A lot of the scenes in this episode are written virtually perfectly. "My planet needs me" is of course the best but the whole kid feedback scene, "nice place you got here", "I hope somebody got fired for that blunder", so many great parts. And Roy is my personal favorite Simpsons character.
1. You only move twice - duh. Great top tier episode, and one of the most complete-feeling Simpsons episodes, like nothing could easily be cut from the episode.
They cut quite a lot out of the episode, though. I kind of wish they'd been able to leave in the robo-call service subplot for Grandpa. There were two scenes of it on the Season 8 DVD, but there were apparently two more that were planned.
I hate Homer's Enemy.
Suggestion for theories: are Kang and Kodos real or just fantasy
Real. They just like to watch and laugh at earths misery.
They’re real, they’ve appeared in a few non treehouse of horror episodes.
Perhaps it is mass hysteria.
@Mike Keller I'm so happy at least someone picked up on that!
Mike Keller
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see...
The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer that’s my favorite
It’s criminal it didn’t make the top 5 let alone top 10, sure it’s not the funniest episode ever but pretty much every episode is gonna make you laugh! Only this episode has animation this insane, it’s like the writers said “if we’re going to have a guest star as legendary as Johnny Cash we had better go all out on this episode”
I don’t know, I’ve never ranked funny episodes super high in my personal lists, ANY classic Simpsons episode can make you laugh it’s not THAT special, I want something that can make me feel like Separate Vocations or wow me with its visuals like Mysterious Voyage
Derek Matzek I don’t always rank the funniest the highest either which is why I like a lot of the simpsons and futurama, mind you they are still funny but not overtly seeking jokes or making constant jokes like some other show. For instance the summer of 4 ft 2 is one of my favorites as is War of the Simpsons. They have funny moments but good writing and story telling. But back to Johnny Cash...and that talking coyote was just that talking dog, “find your soul mate Homer” wait a minute dogs can’t talk ruff...damn straight. That’s some funny shit
"I hope i didn't brain my damage" is probably my second most quoted line from the series. First place being "I please to aim".
@@derekmatzek9551 It was considered all way back in season 3, but rejected as too wild (series still had rule of relative plausibility), and renewed in S8, because show crew finally had ambitions to go into that bizarre direction. There is various signs of earlier characterization in the script, indicating far-removed roots of episode (Smithers engages Marge at square dance, little more reasonable Ralph, etc.).
Love that one
Grade School Confidential is one of my fav episodes from this season. I always have a soft spot for the Skinner and Krabopple episodes like this one and the PTA Disbands
Man, the episode that really surprised me on rewatch is Gradeschool Confidential. It seems like it should be such a cliche 'these characters are in the same setting together so let's pair them up' plotline but it really, really works because the character beats are just so perfect. It makes sense that these two characters would end up dating - once Edna can see Skinner as something other than an obstructive opposition, she's lonely enough to give it a try, and Skinner's passive enough to go along with it. But more than that, the two of them end up doing what few other relationships in the series (including Homer and Marge) do for me - they really feel GOOD for each other. They're both in essense lonely people with boring, humdrum lives, but approach it in different ways. It makes sense that when Edna has an incentive to see Skinner's good qualities, that his way of seeing the best in the life she's felt ground down by would be really endearing, and he'd remind her that there are things that can make her happy. On the other hand, Edna's longing for more gets through to Skinner too - he gets the guts to fight for their relationship, and then keep it going at the end. There's something legitimately really sweet and earnest and optimistic about it, in the vein of earlier seasons - I feel silly getting such strong feelings about Skinner and Mrs Krabappel, but their very mundanity is basically the point. They're ordinary people stuck in the grind, but they manage to find happiness together, and bring happiness to each other. It's really a perfect ending for them - no big, shocking change, and the world doesn't yet recognise their love. But it's there, whether anyone else sees it or cares or not. It feels like the anti Homers Enemy, tbh, which is obviously an AMAZING episode but tends to make me feel negatively the more I think about it. Gradeschool Confidential makes me feel GOOD. It is, IMO, a really underrated episode, and I'd easily put it in my top 5 for this sason.
I like that take. I enjoyed that episode much more than I expected. I certainly liked it more than any Homer-Marge-marriage episode I recall.
This is my favorite season of The Simpsons. So many great episodes. I’d even say that Homer’s Enemy and You Only Move Twice alone make this my favorite season.
My mind was blown when I learned which episodes made up this season, they're all so amazing. Season 8 is my all-time favourite season, just about every episode is packed full of gags that just fire off so quickly, and all of them land perfectly.
Seeing you taking off "Burns, baby, burns" right off the bat.. it was rough, I tell ya!
Ya gave it no regard, no regard at all!
"The Springfield Files" is my favorite Simpsons episode of all time, just because I have never laughed as hard as I did when the "alien" was revealed to be burns. I don't really laugh much, and the best jokes normally get a chuckle out of me at most. But I just completely lost it for a solid 3 minutes.
I always love hearing the Spyro ost in the background of your videos, makes me feel even more nostalgic
Happy with this list, excited for the next. 'The City of New York vs. Homer' is one of my favorite episodes.
I would honestly say "You only move twice" is my all time favourite Simpsons episode, I never get tired of it.
Man, season 8 is absolutely packed.
But yeah, #1 and #2 are still obvious. You Only Move Twice may be the best episode of the series.
I used to think series 8 was one of the weaker ones of the golden era but my god some of these episodes are classic. I can imagine this was incredibly hard to put together.
Anyone could’ve named the top 2 straight away. It’s such a tough pick but for me I’ve gotta go with Homer’s Enemy. Scorpio is Albert Brooks’s finest hour, but too much of the episode is solely down to him I guess. Homer’s Enemy is more than just a very funny episode of the Simpsons
This season has 2 episode that are on a lot of peoples "Mount Rushmore" of Simpsons episodes. Thats basically enough said for this season
For me its in no order, Homers Enemy, You Only Move Twice, Treehouse of Horror V and Last Exit to Springfield.
Also its incredible that 2 episodes I really like, Bart After Dark and Brother From Another Series don't even get a look in. Though anything Sideshow Bob makes an episode go up 30% higher in my rankings than it "should" regardless of the plot
I love literally every episode in this season but my favorites are Lisa's Date With Density and Grade School Confidential.
Homer screaming at the hot dogs thawing in the sink is such an amazing visual gag
I love how "Homer's Enemy" purposely flanderizes all of Springfield. That would normally be a bad thing, but they made the town feel like this anomaly that exists outside of the rules of logic and sucks your intelligence the longer you spent there. It's basically another dimension.
Homer is basically the early Flanders to Frank Grimes' early Homer.
Hurricane neddy is easily one of my favourite episodes of all time ❤️ I'm shocked it wasn't anywhere on this list but I guess that's just how good this season is, just that scene with neds new house alone kills me as one of the greatest couple of minutes in the Simpsons ❤️😂
It's a load-bearing episode
😉
25: My Sister, My Sitter
24: The Twisted World of Marge Simpson
23: Burns, Baby Burns
22: The Canine Mutiny
21: The Homer They Fall
20: In Marge We Trust
19: The Old Man and the Lisa
18: Lisa’s Date With Density
17: Bart After Dark
16: Simpsoncalifragilisticexpialidoc (Annoyed Grunt) ious
15: Secret War of Lisa Simpson
14: Hurricane Neddy
13: Simpsons Spin Off Showcase
12: Mysterious Voyage of Homer
11: Homer vs. the 18th Amendment
10: Grade School Confidential
9: Mountain of Madness
8: The Brother From Another Series
7: Treehouse of Horror VII
6: A Milhouse Divided
5: Homer’s Phobia
4: Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show
3: The Springfield Files
2: You Only Move Twice
1: Homer’s Enemy
Damn you made the chili cook-off episode, one of the top rated and arguably best episode ever made for the series, down towards last on your list. I question this tremendously.
Homer's Phobia is still my favorite episode of all time. John and Homer's moments and dynamic gets me everytime. That and the Ajax Steel Mill. I love how Homer's ignorance mimics the way people used to think about the gay people in general, mostly based on TV and media stereotypes ("You know me, Marge: I like my beer cold, my TV loud and my homosexuals FLAAAAAAMING"). I remember this was an episode it aired waaaaaay late at night in my country back in the day, probably to avoid controversy. Fortunately we've moved forward since then, and actually you can find the episode aired in the afternoon sometimes. It's a memorable episode.
Great list as always, but it broke my heart that The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer didn’t make the top 5, let alone top 10, sure it’s not the funniest episode by any stretch of the imagination, but the animation alone makes it one of my favorites, it’s like the writers said “if we’re going to have a guest star as legendary as Johnny Cash, we better go all out with this episode”
My rank:
1. El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)
2. Bart After Dark
3. Hurricane Neddy
4. Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment
5. Homer's Phobia
6. Grade School Confidential
7. A Milhouse Divided
8. Homer's Enemy
9. You Only Move Twice
10. The Homer They Fall
I think I've read somewhere that your favourite translates to "The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer". I'm not saying you're wrong. I think leaving out or adding the "our" is pretty much optional and the title won't change in Spanish either way (languages don't always have direct translations because they don't have certain synonyms), but it's something to think about.
You took out THE HOMER THEY FALL?! I LOVE the Homer they fall!
"The most rewarding part was when he handed me my money." And Homer's Phobia completely falls apart in act 3.
My Top 10 Simpsons Season 8 Episodes
10. You Only Move Twice: A Little low for a lot of people but I still love this episode. Interesting how the other Simpsons are worse off not being in Springfield but Homer passing up being a part of a crime empire. Love the setting here. Excellent Episode.
9. The Old Man and the Lisa: Weird pairing with Lisa and Mr. Burns but it works very well. I love how Lisa points out how Burns is always evil even when trying to be good. The sideplot with Homer drinking beer is pretty fun as well.
8. A Milhouse Divided: Whenever there's a status quo change, you know it's going to be a good story. A lot of Funny Kirk Van Houten moments as well as Milhouse trying to adjust to life with divorced parents. The subplot with Homer divorcing and remarrying Marge is a lot of fun too and the ending with "Can I Borrow a Feeling" is classic.
7. Lisa's Date With Density: Another Very Solid classic era episode where Lisa tries to make Nelson better and a hilarious Homer-related Sideplot with him becoming a Telemarketer. Homer's answering machine messages are pure gold and the end of Lisa and Nelson's relationship.
6. The Homer They Fall: Amazing boxing parody episode of Homer becoming a Professional Boxer and going three rounds with the Heavyweight champ. This is also my favorite all-time Moe episode as he does well trying to be Homer's Trainer. The Homer Simpson Syndrome and the Fly Guy parody at the end stand out here.
5. Treehouse of Horror VII: Very Good Treehouse of Horror. The Bart having a Twin brother segment is scary and hilarious at the same time, The Genesis Tub is an interesting bit but with a rather sad ending as people realise Lisa can never be saved, and the Clinton vs. Dole election with Kang and Kodos involved is such a Riot.
4. Grade School Confidential: Another attempt in Season 8 (albeit better than A Milhouse Divided) to change the status quo and this time its Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner hooking up (and staying together for about a handful of seasons) and the kids at Springfield Elementary hearing rumors about their alleged doings. The jokes all stick here and it is a great change for the series going forward.
3. The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show: Another awesome Itchy and Scratchy centered episode about the cat and mouse getting a new sidekick and the dog is voiced by none other than Homer. The Test audience scene at the beginning is hilarious and so is all the Poochie cameos in the episode. It's cool too that Homer can steal and ruin the show in the same episode, and they leave the episode with a proper lesson learned.
2. Homer's Enemy: A Classic episode all-around with Frank Grimes being the centerpiece as he is jealous of Homer's great life. All the interactions between Homer and Grimey are gold and my favorite moment of the series is the Frank Grimes Freak-Out and Death ending.
1. The Secret War of Lisa Simpson: I'm just gonna say it, to me, Bart and Lisa pairing episodes are my best pairing in the series. Such an Amazing character dynamic between the two siblings in both Acts 2 and 3. The Testing prank at the beginning is amazing, the Military School Hazing scenes are surreal and the ending where both Bart and Lisa conquer an unsafe and illegal obstacle rope course is wonderful to see. Plenty of room for jokes too. Top tier episode.
The bowling alley line in Homer’s Enemy gets me every single time. 🎳
So, I've been thinking about "you only move twice" since you did your video on it. Because I absolutely hate that episode. I was a child when the episode first aired and I always have. But when you did your video on it, I started remembering Hank Scorpio and how much I really loved him. So I rewatched it trying to understand my own memory. And there is a lot about the episode I like (ok, there is Hank about the episode I like) but I still really disliked it. It's been rolling around in my mind ever since and I finally came to something of an epiphany.
But this episode was the first one where I felt really betrayed by the status-quo. I already got the concept; even I knew they would be moving back by the end of the episode. But the reasons they gave were, in my mind, the most ridiculous and character betraying reasons they could possibly come up with. It was the laziest thing ever. And honestly, I still agree with it and pretty much all my complaints still stand.
Marge being board at home isn't completely impossible, likely she would take a while to warm up. But she was so immediately resigned to it, like she hadn't gotten a job at the power plant, become a cop, gone on the run and learned how to use a gun, joined a society club and book clubs and the like. Like she was still season 1 'nothing outside a housewife' Marge. Obviously, she would take time to make new friends and join things, but the idea that she wouldn't even try was ridiculous to me. Her issues bother me most, and the fact that she didn't even try to explore options to help the kids.
Lisa already was such a nature kid I thought it was stupid she was suddenly so full of allergies. But fine, it could happen. And some allergies are bad enough that medicine doesn't help. But the fact is repeated that they didn't try. She didn't try allergy shots or explore any options.
Bart has the most legitimate complaints (I don't say that often) but even his are manageable. They could certainly hire a tutor to try and catch Bart up so he could re-join normal class. Now Bart would hate that, which is why I say his complaint is most legitimate. But we still run into the repeated problem that they didn't even consider doing something about it.
They all could have and reasonably SHOULD have, had improved lives here. And absolutely no effort was made to see if they might. It is the most self-sabotaging nonsense I have ever seen. And two out of three felt like out of character self-sabotage on top of that.
Now as an adult I can understand more the time constraint problems and just appreciate what a masterpiece performance Hanks character provides. And it's not like there aren't legitimate complaints about living and working there (he IS a supervillain after all) but that wasn't the reasons they left. And that's the joke, I get that. But it was the moment I realized that writing didn't matter, a story meant little, and character personalities and histories would be thrown out in a second if it was funnier and easier. I certainly don't think this episode is objectively bad. In fact, I think its actually quite good and fun. But subconsciously this was a big moment that made me realize that the show was an episodic laugh-fest and was never going to be more to me than that, it was never going to be MEANINGFUL to me. Despite the occasional meaningful episode, as a whole, the structure worked against getting that something extra out of a show. And honestly, after this episode, I accepted that and I could enjoy it in a more lighthearted manner. But I guess I always resented this episode for that first betraying moment.
Yay, finally somebody hates YOLT!))) I watched episode, maybe, couple times at all, but thing that couldn't manage to elevate it to Top Classic for me is exactly that non-fulfillment of plot, as if episode has sole premise and character with quirk, but doesn't expand on any of it in sense of narrative, so there is those arbitrary reasons to shift everything back to status quo, as if writers had problems to come with story around potentially interesting premise.
(Also it seems, I'm single human in universe who isn't in love with Hank Scorpio... I'm sure Brooks gave fantastic performance, though. And I, possibly, would like to see him and Sideshow Bob collaborating as antagonists, or even oppose to each other.)
Regarding devolving of Marge, not only in that episode, but overall since somewhere around S5-6, she goes back to oppressed miserable housewife, having all her achievements and amazing progress she undergone during S1-4, nixed, and even while she occasionally had new bursts of it even in S6-7, she would then just go back down in the end of episode and revert to her dull life of serving her unthankful brood (all while in previous seasons there was some small progress on her part or improvement in Homer's and kids evaluation for her). It's side-effects of years-lasting status quo, of course, yet disappointing in regard of such (initially) nuanced character.
As soon as the mario RPG music started playing you had a lifetime subscriber.
Really appreciate the effort that's put into these videos, very well edited and commentated too!
Keep it up :)
Funny thing about "The Genesis Tub," I watched the Talespin episode "The Incredible Shrinking Molly" and they basically did the "rebigulator" joke several years before the Simpsons did. Albeit, phrased differently and not nearly as funny, but still having the same meaning that somehow a shrinking ray is possible, but a growth ray isn't. And I wouldn't have bothered to mention it, but the line was delivered by Dan Castellaneta. So a Simpsons joke told by a Simpsons cast member before they actually did it on the show.
Also, Disney could TOTALLY make a Chewbacca figure wearing a "Homer is a Dope" t-shirt. They own both, it would be a nice collectable.
It did feel random in that case though since he still grew them back anyway no problem, while the large point of The Genesis Tub is that they genuinely couldn't do it and hadn't at all thought any of their plan through when permanently shrinking their 'God'.
That's the differences between the cartoons and the formats. Talespin basically having a plot to resolve to get to a status quo to remain episodic. The Simpsons, however, it's a non-canonical anthology series where they leave things in unsolvable situations because the fact that things go without a satisfying conclusion is the joke. While technically the same joke, the resolution, or lack thereof, does change the context. That said, it was a weird Talespin. The show is a little more grounded than having a standard Incredible Shrinking 80's Stock Plot. It wasn't even that good, and Dan playing the crazy scientist was the only real highlight.
@@mightyfilm I think it's just one of those stock plots that nearly every show with even a mild fantasy hook does (same for the 'switch bodies' or 'cyborgs take over the industry' plots, which Talespin also done, as well as most of the other Disney afternoon shows). I'm pretty sure the Simpsons even done shrinking again in a non-Treehouse of Horror format (at least the comics did).
It was a rather lively Talespin episode though, the animation was looser and even the acting was a bit crazier. It was almost like they decided to make things a little wilder with Dan there.
80's cartoons had stock plotlines, mostly because of the 65 episode syndication crunch. Some writers outright recycled their own plots, if not straight up scripts, for multiple shows created by competing companies. David Wise recycled one storyline for He-Man, Transformers, TMNT, and Defenders of the Earth.
@@mightyfilm Well yeah, but even then those plots aren't exactly ditched in modern times. Modern cartoons still use all the stock plots like 'shrink rays', 'body switchings', 'invisibility potions', 'turned to babies/animals/kaijus', etc, etc. They're pretty much go-to 'wacky antics' scenarios.
Really hard for me to pick stand-out favorites, though among the top of my list for this season would be You Only Move Twice, The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show, Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment, In Marge We Trust, and The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase. Honorable mention goes to Homer's Enemy, an episode that I don't fully like, but I have a massive amount of respect for, in terms of just going there with that pitch black comedy ending.
Sister, My Sitter is a guilty pleasure episode of mine this season
Same
honestly 'my sister, my sitter' is one of my least favourite episodes, but that's probably just because it scared me as a child :(
@@belleyelena7720 Not to sound condescending or anything but how?
@@yonismohamed3036 bart's injuries freaked me out, the daydream thing where everyone blamed lisa scared me, and ESPECIALLY when all her anxieties came true and everyone thought she WAS a horrible babysitter would make me genuinely frightened that a series of unfortunate events like that could happen to me
and don't worry you don't sound condescending at all, i understand that i was scared of silly things as a kid
Go to bread!
I am just genuinely curious as to your feelings towards the "post-classic era" seasons. I feel like people are so quick to write off the show post season 10. I think you'll be able to point out the gems from every season.
Agreed I've been watching them for the first time myself thanks to this channel inspiring me to get disney+. There's some legit good stuff in there that I missed out on due to giving up on the show with Saddlesore Galactica. Course a lot of not so great too, but it's been more watchable then I thought it would be.
@@stryke-jn3kv It's weird but I never minded Saddlesore Galactica...but tbh, I don't think I've seen it since I was quite young and I just kind of ate up everything Simpsons until a certain age. I caught chunks of the FXX Every Simpsons Ever marathon a few years back and did start to notice how bad episodes like Simpsons Safari and the episode about Moe's bar rag are. At the same time, there are still some gems like Behind the Laughter, Barthood, etc. I really enjoyed Halloween of Horror and Gone Abie Gone , among others.
There are some diamonds in the rough for sure.
Jeffery Jones oh the moe bar rag story one was awful it was so boring it’s one of the worst episodes imo I almost fall asleep every time I see it so I try to skip over it
@@jefferyjones8399 I still need to watch Behind The Laughter. Everyone tells me how good it is. I do think some of the double digit seasons were good, like 12, 14, 15...all of those had their own little gems. Seasons 10 and 11 are ones I have a down on, though. Especially 11. I can literally pick out almost any episode from that season and immediately list something wrong with it. The poisoned eclair literally ruined Guess Who's Coming To Criticize Dinner, for example. Or Kill The Alligator and Run moves so fast, it kind of feels more like a disjointed set of clips than a full episode.
"Dont blame me. I voted for Kodos" is by far the line I think about the most from this season. Especially after becoming of election age. I think that that episode is the best satire The Simpsons has ever done. Personally, I prefer how South Park does satire, but thats just me
Yeah. But South Park like the Simpsons need to stop. The shows are horrible.
Can’t wait for the Season 9 retrospective. I’m really keen for an Extra Seconds on ‘The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson’ and The Principal and The Pauper’.
I don't know how you managed to make these into a top 10, I love all these episodes so much :D They're all so fantastic
I feel you nailed this top 10, it’s right on
"One kid seems to LOVE the speedo man"
Homer’s Enemy & the Springfield Files are one of my all time favorites.
💛Homer’s Enemy is such a kind episode to Homer, everyone is just so nice towards him...well except Grimmie
And love me some X-Files cameo.
"Pigs tend to chew...", yes, so nice :D
Now this is the kind of video I needed right after my nap.
I've just been binging loads of Simpsons videos on youtube and came across this one, which I'm so happy about. Season 8 was one of my favourites with SO MANY great episodes like You Only Move Twice, Homer's Enemy, The Springfield Files, Bart After Dark and my ABSOLUTE favourite- Grade School Confidential. That episode was so sweet and I totally agree with how you described Edna and Seymour's dynamic and how they naturally developed their relationship. It felt like something that would work, two characters finally breaking the status quo of the show (which Edna is actually only one of VERY few characters who does that) and the two just bounced off of each other so well- Seymour's innocence and Edna's jaded wit. I wanted to see Seymour become a confident, independent man who's able to give Edna the love and happiness that she deserves... but the writers absolutely butchered their story after such an adorable start, heck even their engagement was cute... but the wedding episode really upset me. I was actually a bit unsure of Ned/Edna because of my fondness of Grade School Confidential but, in the end, Ned made her happy and they genuinely loved each other, so at least she finally felt loved and appreciated before she sadly left us.
This video proves that S8 is the best season of all. Crazy how packed it is.
My favorite episode is “Grade school confidential”, surprised it didn’t make the list, it has so many great jokes and heart.
And Homer’s Enemy might well be my favorite episode period
Excellent video! I believe that episodes 1 and 2 from your list both deserve to be in the discussion for the title of "Best Episode of the Entire Series".
I love your videos, and I am very much looking forward to your Season 9 review!
Lenny: “it’s bringing love don’t let it get away!”
Carl: “break its legs!”
I LOVE how they are on the same wavelength ❤
Inspired by your Top 10 lists, here is my Top 10 of Season 8:
1.You Only Move Twice
2. Bart After Dark
3. Grade School Confidential
4. The Secret War of Lisa Simpson
5. Homer vs. the 18th Amendment
6. Homer's Enemy
7. In Marge We Trust
8. My Sister, My Sitter
9. The Mysterious Voyage of Homer
10. Homer's Phobia
I always thought my love for Hank Scorpio was skewing the value of that episode, but I see others are with me! I might just get a Hank Scorpio tattoo before it's all over.
For me, the Top 10 of Season 8 Would Be:
10. The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show
9. The Springfield Files
8. El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer
7. A Milhouse Divided
6. Homer's Enemy
5. Lisa's Date with Density
4. Grade School Confidential
3. Hurricane Neddy
2. Homer vs the Eighteenth Amendment
1. You Only Move Twice
Jims says of "Mountain of Madness" that it's full of stuff he'd be shaking his fist at Scully for, but there's a very big and important difference between "Mountain of Madness" being wacky and seasons 9-12 being wacky: "Mountain of Madness" is actually funny. It does comedy with its wackiness, whereas in the Scully era, the wackiness IS (intended to be) the comedy, so in the end there is mostly no comedy.
Maybe it's because I'm gay, but Homer's Phobia is by far my favourite episode of the Simpsons which would make it an easy number 1 for me
You Only Move Twice might be one of my favorite episodes of all time
John swartzwelder wrote your top two from this season plus another top 10 & an honorable mention. Season 8 is probably the best season by the best simpsons writer.
Wow, I usually agree with you on most of these but Hurricane Neddy and The Mysterious Voyage of Homer were completely robbed here.